Apparatus for drying strip material



March 28, 1950 v. A. RAYB URN APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIP MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1945 ATTORNEY INVENTOR. MA I? YBURN March 28, 1950 v. A. RAYBURN APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. m. RAYBURN ATTORNEY March 28; 1950 v. A. RAYBURN APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIP MATERIAL 5' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 14, 1945 mvsmon. MA. R Y BURN.

'A rToRA/Ey March 28, 1950 v. A. RAYBURN APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14,-" A945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FAQ-712747455 Q Q w Q Q Q a m Gt INVENTOR.

VA VBURN AT TORNEV March "28,- 1950- v. A. RAYBURN APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIP- MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 14, 1945 mvsmozz. MA. RAVBURN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1950 APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIP MATERIAL Vincent A. Rayburn, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 14, 1945, Serial No. 610,831

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for drying strip material and has for its object the provision of new and improved apparatus for drying strip material.

In the preparation of a vulcanizable compound containing rubber or a rubber-like material for some manufacturing operations, such compound is worked in a mill and is taken from the mill in the form of a long strip which has rough, pebbled surfaces, which often have fissures therein. Sometimes it is desirable to advance such strips through sprays or baths of water to cool them, after which it is necessary to remove the surplus water from them before they are handled or processed further. In the past, it has been attempted to dry the strips by air blasts to blow the water therefrom and by hanging the strips for long periods of time. Both of these methods have been time-consuming and relatively ineffective. The air blasts fail to remove all the water from the rough surfaces and fissures of the strip and hanging the strips requires excessive plant space and is dependent on atmospheric conditions.

One apparatus embodying the invention comprises a pair of hollow rolls having perforations formed in the peripheries thereof. At least one of the rolls is rotated to advance a strip of material positioned between the rolls and means are provided for creating a partial vacuum in hollow portions of the rolls for extracting the water from a wet strip of material positioned therebetween.

A specific embodiment of the invention includes a pair of inrunning hollow rolls having perforations formed in the peripheries thereof. A valve core having a U-section fits into one of the rolls in a position facing the other roll and a second, similar, valve core is positioned in the other roll and is directed toward the first-mentioned roll. When a suction head is applied to the valve cores, moisture from a strip of material being advanced by the inrunning rolls is drawn therefrom by the air being sucked into the valve cores, whereby the strip of material is dried. Compression springs urge one of the rolls toward the other roll so that the strip of material tion of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, partially sectional view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken along line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section of a portion of the apparatus, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line ||I|0 of Fig. 9.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, an upright frame (Fig. 3) includes a pair of vertical side members 2| and 22, and a tie-cap 23 (Fig. 4), which is secured to the tops of the side members with cap screws 24-24 (Fig. 10). A pair of sleepers 25 and 26 (Fig. 9) are positioned transversely between the members 2| and 22 at the lower extremities of a pair of guideways 21 and 28 (Fig. 10) formed in the upper portions of the webs of the side members 2| and 22. A pair of journal boxes 30 and 3| (Figs. 4 and 9) containing anti-friction liners 32-32 are mounted in the lower portions of the guideways 21 and 28 in axial alignment and are secured to the sleepers 25 and 26, respectively, with cap screws. Shims (not shown) may be installed between the sleepers 25 and 26 and the journal boxes 3|] and 3| as required for placing the journal boxes at proper levels. The journal boxes 30 and 3| are provided with guide slots 33-33 (Fig. 8), which receive guide rails 34-34 of the guideways 21 and 28.

A lower roll 35 (Fig. 3) includes a hollow shell 36 (Fig. 4), which has a plurality of sharp approach, short tube, orifices 3'|3| formed in the periphery thereof in closely spaced, staggered, longitudinal rows. A pair of tubular end members 39 and 40 (Fig. 9) form journals, which are rotatably fitted in the liners 32-32. A pair of shoulders 4|-4| formed on end members 39 and 40 bear against the ends of the journal boxes 30 and 3|, and, thus, the roll 35 is laterally confined between the journal boxes. The end mem bers 39 and 40 are secured rigidly to the hollow 3 shell 36 by set screws 42-42. A gear 43 is keyed to the tubular end 46 at the right of the journal box 3|, as viewed in Fig. 9.

The left end, as viewed in Fig. 9, of a cylindrical valve core 46 is keyed to a cap 45 (Fig. 9) bolted to the end of the journal box 36. The core 46 has an elongated open channel 41 (Fig. 6) formed therein, which faces upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 7. The core 46 fits closely within the hollow shell 36, and one end thereof is urged upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 9, by a spring 48 mounted in the cap 45. The other end of the core, 46, as viewed in Fig. 4, is supported by a saddle 56,

which is urged upwardly by a spring 53 in a- I provided with a pair of guide slots 51-51 similar to the guide slots 33-33 (Fig. 8) formedin the journal box 3|. The journal box 56 is slidably mounted within the guide rails 34-34 above the journal box 3|, and the journal box 55 is similarly mounted above the journal box 36. The journal boxes 55 and 56 are urged downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 9, by a pair of compression springs 58-58,v which are compressed by a pair of spring-centering seats 66-66 borne by bolts 59-59 adiustably secured by lock nuts 62-62 in tapped bores 6I-6I formed in the tie cap 23.

The journal boxes 55 and 56 have secured therein a pair of anti-friction liners 65-65 in which are rotatably mounted a pair of tubular end members 66 and 61 secured to a hollow shell 68 of an upper roll 16. The hollow shell 68 has a plurality of sharp approach, short tube, orifices 1I-1I formed in the surface thereof in closely spaced, staggered, longitudinal rows.

A gear 12 (Fig. 4) keyed to the tubular end member 61 of the roll 16 meshes with the gear 43, which is driven by a gear 13 secured on a drive shaft 15, driven by a suitable source of power (not shown). .A housing 16 serves to enclose the gears 43, 12 and 13.

A cylindrical valve core 11 is keyed to a cap 83 bplted to an end of the journal box 55. The core 11 is identical with the core 46 and for the sake of simplicity only the core 11 will be described in detail. The core 11 has a pair of annular bearing surfaces 8I-8I (Fig. 9) formed exteriorly thereon near the ends thereof, and a substantially annular bearing surface 82 (Fig. 6) is formed on the central portion thereof. Longitudinally extending arcuate bearing surfaces 83-83 (Fig. 7) are formed on the exterior of the upper portion of the core 11.

A pair of arcuate bearing surfaces 85-86 are formed on the exterior of the core 11 adjacent to a plurality of relieved portions 85-85, and an elongated open channel 81 is formed in the core 11. The bearing surfaces 86-86 are immediately adjacent to the channel 81, and the bearing surfaces 8I-8I, 82-82, 83-83 and 86-86 permit the hollow shell 68 to rotate thereover with a minimum of friction. Sharp-edged lips 18 and 19 of the core 11 are spaced apart a distance so that only a few of the longitudinal'rows of the orifices 1I-II are in communication with the cavity 81 at any one time. The cores 46 and 11 are secured in positions in which the channels 41 and 81 are in facing relationship (Fig. 'I).

The core 11 has a central dividing web 88 (Fig. 6) formed midway thereof in the channel 81. An arcuate vane or splitter 96 is positioned within the channel 81 near the left end, as viewed in Fig. 6, and a similar arcuate splitter 8| is positioned upwardly and to the right of the splitter 96. A third arcuate splitter 92, which is similar to the splitters 96 and 9|, is positioned upwardly and to the right of the splitter 9|. A plurality of arcuate splitters (not shown), which are identical with the arcuate splitters 96, 9| and 92, are positioned to the right of the web 88, as viewed in Fig. 6, in a relation symmetrical to that in which the splitters 96, 9| and 92 are positioned.

The web 68 divides the channel 81, and the splitters 96, 9| and 82 serve to even the flow of air through the left portion of the channel 81 when air is drawn from the left end of the channel 81, as viewed in Fig. 6. and the web 88 and the corresponding splitters (not shown) positioned to the right of the web 88 perform a similar function with respect to the right end of the channel 81 when air is evacuated from that portion of the channel.

A stufling 64 contained in a slot 95 formed in the core 11 between the bearing surfaces 83-83 supplies oil to the interior of the perforated shell 68 from a plurality of bores 96-96 formed in the core 11, which bores are connected with an oil pipe 91 secured in the upper portion of the core 11. Oil is supplied under pressure to the oil pipe 81 by suitable means (not shown).

A plurality of flexible ducts I66-I66 (Figs. 2 and 3) are connected to the tubular ends of the cores 46 and 11 and to a header duct IN. The header duct leads to the inlet of a closed eliminator chamber I62, which is provided with eliminator plates I63-I63 of a well known type. The

outlet of the eliminator chamber I62 is connected to the inlet of an exhaust fan I64 (Fig. 1), which is driven by an electric'motor I66 to evacuate the eliminator chamber I62 and form a suction head in the open channels 41 and 81 of the cores 46 and 11. An exhaust pipe I61 serves to convey the air from the fan discharge to a suitable place of disposal.

A drain pipe I68 (Figs. 2 and 3) is connected to the chamber I62 by a pipe H6 and to the bot-' tom of the duct I6I by pipes III and H2. The drain pipe I68 carries away any moisture condensed inthe duct IN and any moisture separated from the air stream in the eliminator chamber I62. A suitable trap (not shown) is provided in the drain pipe I68 to provide a water column of sufiicient height to counterbalance the suction head of the exhaust fan and seal the eliminator chamber I62 and the header duct I6I from the drain pipe without impeding or retarding the eiiiuent water.

When the fan I64 is driven, air is drawn through the channels 41 and 81 formed in the cores 46 and 11, respectively, and the orifices 31-31 and 1 I-1I at high velocities, and is drawn at a high velocity over all of the portions of rough, flssured top and bottom surfaces of a wet strip I26, which is composed of plastic material, such as a rubber or rubber-like compound, adjacent to the shells 36 and 68. The shells 36 and 68 squeeze the water out of the fissures in the strip and distort the strip to open the fissures. The air sweeping at a high velocity over these sur faces of the strip draws the moisture from the surfaces and opened fissures of the strip and carries it into and through the orifices 31-31 and 1I-1I The air. and moisture then are drawn through the channels 41 and 81 and the ducts the eliminator chamber Ir -466 and IIII into In the operation of the apparatus described hereinabove, thelower and the upper rolls 3! and I6 (Fig. 3) are. driven in opposite, or inrunning, directions by, the drive shaft I5, and the motor I06 is energized to drive the exhaust fan I I4 (Fig. l), which exhausts air from the cavities and 81. As the rolls 35 and III are rotated the inner surfaces of the shells 36 and 66 are wiped bythe stufling 94, and the stuffing (not shown). corresponding to the stuffing 94, which place coatings of lubricating oil thereon. The lubricating oil assists in forming a substantiallyair tight seal between the bearing surfaces 66'86 of the core 11' and the inner surface of the shell 68. Thus air is sucked rapidly into the channel 81 through'the orifices in the shell 68 adjacent to the channel 81. Any excess oil which may be deposited on the interior surface of the shell 68, together with the air from the exterior of the shell, is sucked therefrom by the suction head in the open channel 81. A seal and lubrication are provided between the shell 36 and the The wet strip I20 of plastic material is in-- serted between the shells 36 and 68, which are so spaced that they compress the strip of material slightly, and the strip is advanced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 'I, by the inrunning action of the shells 36 and 68. As the strip is advanced between the shells, air is sucked into the open channels 41 and 81 at high velocity and is drawn over the surfaces of the strip at a high velocity so that the moisture is drawn from the surfaces and the pores of the strip into the cavities. The moisture-laden air is drawn through the eliminator chamber I02 (Fig. 1), wherein that part of the moisture which remains free is are in communication with the channels 41 and l1,.respectively, are always close .to the strip, which fact tends to keep the velocity of the air in the vicinity of the open orifices high. The diameters of the shells also are small enough to squeeze out any water in the fissures of the strip without excessively high inter-roll pressures.

shells 36 and 68 upon the strip I20 also acts to squeeze out any moisture contained in the fissures, pores or folds of the strip. a

The springs 48 and 53 (Fig. 9) urge the core 46 upwardly against the shell 36, whereby the bearing surfaces formed on the core 46 adjacent to the entry of the open channel 41, which bearing surfaces correspond to the bearing surfaces 86-86, are maintained in close and sealing relationships with the portions of the interior surface of the shell 36 adjacent thereto. Gravity performs a similar function on the core II.

The fan I04 creates such a suction head that the velocity of the air sweeping across the portions of the rough, fissured surfaces of the strip I20 adjacent to those of the orifices 3I3'I and 'II-'II opening into the channels 41 and 01 is very high. The velocity of the air over these portions of the surfaces preferably should be at least 15,000 feet per minute for drawing clear water from the strip, and a velocity of from about 17,000 feet per minute to about 18,000 feet per minute is preferred. Even better results may be obtained by higher velocities but such velocities require a greater suction head than that required to produce the above-mentioned velocities, which are very satisfactory.

The diameters of the shells 36 and 68 are large enough that the orifices 31-31 and II-II which The rolls '35 and I0 (Fig. 3) serve the dual function of advancing and squeezing the strip I26, while the moisture on the strip is sucked through the orifices 31-31 and 1 III formed in the shells. Thus, no separate advancing and ex-' tracting means are necessary with the apparatus described hereinabove, which advances strips, such as the strip I20, very eiliciently and with economy of space and time.

The above-described apparatus for drying strip material is especially. eflicacious in drying strips of rubber or rubber-like material. This efliciency is due to the high velocity of theair which is drawn over the surfaces of the strips and the si multaneous squeezing or wringing action on the strip. The strips are dried thoroughly andrapidly by the above-described apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for drying strips of plastic material, which comprises a frame, a pair of cylindrical shells having a plurality of orifices formed therethrough and mounted on the frame in close parallel relationship, means for rotating the shells in opposite directions to feed therebetween a wet strip of plastic material, means for urging one of the shells toward the other of the shells to compress the strip, a pair of core tubes having channels formed therein, each of which core tubes has a pair of bearing surfaces formed thereon adjacent to the mouths of the channels and is mounted in one of the cylindrical shells with the bearing surfaces thereon in sealing contact with the interior surface of the shell, said core tubes being positioned in the shells with the channels in facing relationship, and means for evacuating the channels to draw air through the orifices in the shells adjacent to the mouths of the channels, whereby any moisture on the surfaces of the wet strip is sucked into the chan-' nels.

2. A drying apparatus, which comprises a frame, a pair of cylindrical shells havingstaggered orifices formed therein and mounted on the frame in close parallel relationship, means for rotating the shells in opposite directions to feed a wet strip of plastic material therebetween, means for urging one of the shells toward the other shell to compress the strip, a pair of core tubes having channels formed therein and also provided with bearing surfaces positioned adjacent to the mouths of the channels, said core tubes being secured in the cylindrical shells-with the bearing surfaces thereon in sealing contact with the interior surfaces of the shells and being positioned in the shells with the channels in facing relationship, means for evacuating the channels to draw air through the orifices in the shells adjacent to the mouths of the channels, whereby any moisture on the surfaces of the wet strip is sucked into the channels, and means for creating an air tight seal between the bearing surfaces and the portions of the surfaces of the shells adjacent to the bearing surfaces.

3. A drying apparatus, which comprises a frame, a pair of cylindrical shells having sharp approach, short tube orifices extending through the peripheries thereof and mounted on the one of the shells toward the other shell, means for rotating the shells in opposite directions to advance a wet strip of material therebetween, a pair of cylindrical core tubes having elongated channels formed longitudinally thereof and also provided with bearing surfaces positioned adjacent to the mouths of the channels, said core tubes being positioned in the shells with the mouths of the channels in facing relationship and the bearing surfaces adjacent to the mouths of the channels fitting against the interior surfaces of the shells, said core tubes also being provided with a plurality of annular bearing surfaces which rotatably mountthe shells thereon, means for lubricating the bearing surfaces, means for evacuating the channels to draw air rapidly through the orifices in the shells adjacent to the mouths thereof, a pair of dividing webs positioned in the central portions of the channels for dividing the channels, a plurality of vanes spaced in predetermined positions in the cavities for equalizing the flow of air through the channels, and means for urging the core tubes other.

4. Apparatus for drying strips of plastic material, which comprises a frame, a cylindrical shell having orifices formed therethrough and rotatably mounted on the frame, a core having an open channel formed therein and fitted closely within the circular shell, means for applying suction to one end of the channel to cause a rapid flow of air to be drawn into the channel through the orifices in the portions of the shell adjacent to the mouth ofthe channel, whereby any moisture contained on a strip of material Mvanced over the shell is drawn into the channel, and a plurality of arcuate vanes positionedin the channel transversely across the channel and facing toward said end of the channel and the mouth of the channel for equalizing the flow of the air toward said end'of the channel and the mouth of the channel for equalizing thefiow oi the air through the orifices, the vanes being spaced along a line inclined with respect to the mouth of the channel with the vane nearest said end of the 4 tubes having elongated channels formed longitutoward each through the orifices, the vanes being spaced along the channel.

5. Apparatus for drying strips of plastic material, which comprises a frame, a cylindrical shell having orifices formed therethrough and r0- tatably mounted on the frame, a core having an open channel formed therein and fitted closely within th circular shell, means for applying suction to one end of the channel to cause a rapid fiow of air to be drawn into the channel through the orificts in the portions of the shell adjacent to the mouth of the channel, whereby any moisture contained on a strip of material advanced over the shell is drawn into the channel, and a plurality of arcuate vanes positioned in the channel transversely across the channel and facing dinally thereof and also provided with bearing surfaces positioned adjacent to the mouths of the channels, said core tubes being positioned in the shells with the mouths of the channels in facing relationship and the bearing surfaces adjacent to the mouths of the channels fitting against the interior surfaces of the shells, said core tubes also being provided with a plurality of annular bearing surfaces which rotatably mount the shells thereon, means. for lubricating the bearing surfaces, means for evacuating the channels to draw air rapidly through the orifices in the shells adjacent to the mouths thereof, and means for urging the core tubes toward each other.

VINCENT A. RAYBURN.

REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name mtc 16,928 Koch Mar. 81. 1857 231,384 Wiesebrock Aug. 17, 1880 549,999 Fairbanks NOV. 19, 1895 689,400 Keeney Dec. 24, 1901 793,092 Porter June 27, 1905 928,158 Smethurst July 13, 1909 1,091,941 Marx Mar. 31, 1914 1,528,616 Kinsley Mar. 3, 1925 1,551,405 Kilberry Aug. 25, 1925 1,905,671 Millspaugh May 19, 1931 1,839,105 Long Dec. 29, 1931 2,144,770 Mlllspaugh Jan. 24, 1939 2,289,753 Capstaff July 14, 1942 2,990,777 Street July 21, 1942 2,323,918 Kiernan July 13, 1943 2,856,285 Street; Aug. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,506 Great Britain 1885 

